Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement for people with refugee backgrounds. We support young people to build community, become leaders, and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home.
Each year, hundreds of young people from dozens of countries and living in London & Bristol take part in our residential programmes, leadership training and youth hubs. Our residentials are often the first step – immersive, relationship-rich spaces where young people connect, reflect and begin to see themselves as leaders. From there, many move into leadership training and take on volunteer roles within the movement.
Our work is youth-led and rooted in lived experience. We are now implementing our 2025–2028 strategy, focused on strengthening quality, embedding learning and ensuring our growth is sustainable and safe.
The Head of Programmes is a senior leadership role, reporting to the CEO and managing two senior colleagues. You will hold responsibility for the quality, coherence and safeguarding of all programme activity.
Responsibilities (abridged - see attached job description)
Programme Leadership & Strategy in Practice
* Lead implementation of OSH’s 2025–2028 programme strategy.
* Oversee the design, quality and coherence of residentials, leadership training and hubs.
* Take operational responsibility for residential delivery, including participant referrals, recruitment of staff and freelancers, programme content and educational standards.
* Attend and lead approximately five residential programmes per year.
* Identify opportunities to strengthen youth engagement and leadership pathways as the organisation scales.
* Ensure programme data is accurately recorded and used to improve delivery.
Team Leadership
* Line manage the Communities Manager and Leadership & Volunteering Manager.
* Provide structured supervision, clear objectives and professional development support.
* Ensure strong coordination between hubs, residentials and leadership pathways.
* Build a culture of accountability, reflection and continuous improvement.
Safeguarding & Welfare
* Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and serve as DSL at events as required.
* Ensure safeguarding practice is robust, consistent and embedded across all activities.
* Respond to safeguarding and behavioural issues appropriately and oversee safe recruitment processes.
Partnerships, Budget & Oversight
* Maintain referral partnerships and represent OSH externally where appropriate.
* Hold programme budgets within agreed limits and ensure financial discipline.
* Embed monitoring, evaluation and reflective practice across the programme team.
Experience & Competencies (abridged - see attached job description)
Essential
* At least 5 years’ experience in youth or youth-centred programming, including residential or intensive settings.
* Experience designing and delivering leadership development or informal education programmes.
* Strong facilitation and training skills.
* Demonstrable experience managing staff and developing teams.
* Strong understanding of safeguarding practice and willingness to act as Deputy DSL.
* Experience working with young people from refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, or strong understanding of the issues affecting them.
* Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery in a part-time senior leadership role.
* Strong organisational skills and commitment to inclusive, youth-led practice.
Desirable
* Level 3 Safeguarding training.
* Experience managing programme budgets.
* Experience contributing to organisational strategy or scaling programme models.
* Familiarity with Google Workspace, Beacon CRM, MyConcern or similar systems.
* Lived experience of migration or displacement.